This is a live set recorded in 1981 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Much of this same band also recorded the half-live I HATE TO SING album at the same venue a few years later. Bley's music always works well in front of a live audience, with it's strutting loopy gusto and emotionally resonant dramatics. Her six compositions touch on all of her then major musical interests, making this a very good overview for the uninitiated. "Blunt Object" is raucous and relentless. "The Lord Is Listening to Ya, Hallelujah!" draws upon Bley's childhood musical upbringing as the daughter of a church musician. "Time and Us" evokes a Latin American bearing with its melodic figures, as filtered through Bley's own harmonic sensibilities. The 10-piece band, with six horn players, is rich with inventive soloists who use Bley's compositions as a wonderful springboard for further exploration.
Tracks
1. Blunt Objeet
2. The Lord Is Listenin' To Ya, Hallelujah
3. Time And Us
4. Still In The Room
5. Real Life Hits
6. Song Sung Long
MICHAEL MANTLER trumpet
STEVE SLAGLE alto & soprano saxophones, flute
TONI DAGRADI tenor saxophone
GARY VALENTE trombone
VINCEY CHANCEY french horn
ERL McINTYRE tuba, bass trombon
CARLA BLEY organ, piano, glockenspiel
ARTURO O' FARRILL piano, organ
STEVE SWALLOW bass
D. SHARPE drums
Recorded August 19-20, 1981 at The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California
1. Blunt Objeet
2. The Lord Is Listenin' To Ya, Hallelujah
3. Time And Us
4. Still In The Room
5. Real Life Hits
6. Song Sung Long
MICHAEL MANTLER trumpet
STEVE SLAGLE alto & soprano saxophones, flute
TONI DAGRADI tenor saxophone
GARY VALENTE trombone
VINCEY CHANCEY french horn
ERL McINTYRE tuba, bass trombon
CARLA BLEY organ, piano, glockenspiel
ARTURO O' FARRILL piano, organ
STEVE SWALLOW bass
D. SHARPE drums
Recorded August 19-20, 1981 at The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California
WATT Works – WATT/12, ECM Records - ECM